Oh right. It's Summer.

Summer? What is that again?

sum-mer

1. The usually warmest season of the year, occurring between spring and autumn and constituting June, July, and August in the Northern Hemisphere, or, as calculated astronomically, extending from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox.

2. A period of fruition, fulfillment, happiness, or beauty.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/summer)

Aww... Summer. Yes. (If this were a movie, insert frolicking children running through a meadow.)

Hold it! Stop the tape! (yes, you just heard the "tape stopping" sound in your head)
Welcome to adulthood. Frolicking is done ONLY after 5pm and on Saturdays.

Funny how my personal definitions of summer have changed over the years.

Age 0-3: Same as the rest of the year
Age 4-6: The only days spent inside were rainy days. Even then, it was rare. And my playmate/sister didn't have school.
Age 7-11: Summer was great but I loved school. Summer almost seemed too long. I was ready for school start in mid-July.
Age 13-17: Half my summer was consumed by "Pageant" and the other half by summer jobs.
Age 18-22: My summers became longer! (May-August + no "pageant"). However, the stress of finding summer jobs was greater.
Age 23: Oh right. That just happened. 23. Real life. Real job.

What's so different about this summer compared to last? This summer I actually have to track and report my vacation days. Don't get me wrong, paid vacation days are great! Problem is, I only have so many of them. (**Sigh**)

So. 2 weeks of summer have already passed. And what have I done with it?

Spent every moment possible with this girl before she leaves! 

(June 5th, Portland, OR Mission)

Had sleepovers with my mom, among Women's Conference classes.

Turned 23. (Oldie.)

Played in the mud a little bit...















And waterskiied!
This is how we waterski in March, April, May & October:

• Full wetsuit
• Gloves
• Watersocks

The only thing missing is a beanie.

Here's some Hokulia Shaved Ice to toast to a fabulous-use-up-all-my-vacation-days summer!

Letters

Dear Sunshine:
I am so glad that we have been able to spend more quality time together lately. My skin has desperately needed that bit of color that you so willingly provide. However, I wish very much that you would rise earlier in the mornings (I know, it's hard for all of us to do), but I really love it when it's light outside when I run. 6:00am would be ideal. Thank you.

Dear Clean Eating:
We don't have a perfect relationship but when I'm good, you make me feel so great! And boy, there are so many options for delicious meals:

1. Celery with homemade natural peanut butter! So delicious and incredibly easy! (And we all know how much I love Peanut Butter. After having REAL peanut butter, I can never go back to the store bought kind. Seriously.) Celery is also wonderful with homemade hummus.
2. Yummy Lunch Salads: Lettuce, red peppers, chicken, carrots, celery and oil & vinegar dressing.
3. Cucumber Salad! My favorite! Cucumbers sliced, red pepper, chicken, 1 spoonful of plain yogurt and seasonings! (I used black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.)
4. Stuffed Red Peppers: red pepper stuffed with cooked and seasoned barley, topped with mozzarella cheese and broiled in oven until cheese melted. Tomatoes added on top. Could also put in cooked chicken or beef with barley.

Some of my other favorites have been: hard boiled eggs, Peanut Butter Quinoa Bites (sweet enough for me without agave or chocolate!), green smoothies, Plain Whey Protein Isolate (add to oatmeal, green smoothies, fruit smoothies, etc.), carrot chips, Cinnamon Quinoa Bars, and Banana Egg Pancakes.
And can't wait to try: Raspberry Eggs and Lemon Crepes!

Dear Weekend:
I want you to come faster. Conference, home, family, sunshine, sleeping in, and home cooked meals.

Dear Rue 21:
Although you drained a good chunk out of my bank account last week, I sure am loving all my new summery outfits. Most favorite--white pants, plaid shirt, tan flats.

Dear Race Training:
Unfortunately my sanity is not allowing me to run the Utah Valley Marathon (thank goodness I can defer my registration to 2014), but Ragnar here we come! I am ecstatic!

Dear Thyroid:
From the signs, I'm assuming that its you that's been giving me all the troubles lately--dry skin, breaking nails, falling out eyelashes, fatigue, and worst of all, forgetfulness--not acceptable in my job. Something will have to be done soon.

Dear Lake Powell:
I am desperately missing you these days. I can't wait to try out my new water ski on your beautiful blue waters this summer. Please don't miss me too much.

Dear Y Awards:
You are coming up so quickly! Amazingly, I am not feeling stressed yet. We have definitely done a good job of prioritizing our tasks. Can't wait for you to get here April 10th! Miss Gillian and I will be grateful when we pull you off successfully as the event of the century!

Dear New York:
Our plans to see each other are going to have to wait another year and a half. Some changes have come about. However...

Dear San Francisco:
I am now hoping to see you sometime soon instead!

Sincerely,

 

For the Love of a Simple Life

It's crazy how the first step of a daunting task sometimes gives you great clarity.

As I began my first run in training for the Utah Valley Marathon, this morning,
my mind was very far from the pounding of my feet.

In one of my favorite movies, You've Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly writes:

Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave?

I have a friend who is always traveling some place or another, seeing this and that, and always having crazy adventures.

I feel as if my life is somewhere in between. My life isn't small but nor is it one string of adventures after another.
My life is simple. Wonderful and simple with bouts of adventurism.


I don't have a million blog followers, but I have many incredibly wonderful friends.
I haven't been on a mission to convert hundreds of people, but I try to magnify my calling and make a difference in my sphere of influence.
I am no sports hero, but I love to run and love the challenge that it presents.
I haven't traveled the whole world, but what I've seen has taught me a great deal about how blessed I am.
I don't have millions of dollars, but I am self sufficient and hard working.
I have very little claim to fame, but I have wonderful supporters and rocks in my life.
My life is by no means perfect, but it's perfect for me. Simple and wonderful.

Simplicity is perfect for me.
Whenever I complicate life and get frustrated, I miss out on the finer things of life--time with family, beautiful sunrises, reading a book, making a new friend, having a good hair day, singing along to a great song, beautiful sunny days, laughter with good friends or achieving a small goal.
And aren't those the things that make life beautiful?

Whatever kind of life you live, be sure that it is the life that you've always dreamed of.
There may be circumstances that you can't change, challenges that are difficult to overcome, but there are many things that you do have control over.
Enjoy the finer things of life. Simply the things that you can.
Have some crazy adventures. Be brave. But because you have the power, make it the very best.

Christmas via My Phone

I finally did it. I got a smart phone. And I love it. Obviously.
Christmas was full of great entertainment, parties, friends, and adventures.
(Sorry for some Instragram repeats...)

1. Snickerdoodle hot chocolate. Nuff said. --with April Cazier
2. Temple Square --with Saryn Haynie
3. Mexican Train --with the fam
4. Ugly Sweater Friend party, yep. The party that I wore a University of Utah sweater too...
5. Tis the Season for Fuzzy Socks --with the fam
6. Frigid Manti
7. Loving my new flats from Christmas!
8. Family love
9. To Run or Not to Run in the snow. Yes, we did run. --with Kelli
10. Beautiful Christmas Day --with Kelli
11. New Waterskis for Christmas!!! Can't wait to use them! --with Kelli
12. Beautiful Manti is in the middle of no-where.
13. Christmas dinner table setting, courtesy of pinterest
14. Gorgeous Manti Temple. Miss this place already.

Happy Christmas!

The Adventure of Fall

Oh what joys the fall season brings. 

Aside from craziness of work, the fall adventuring has been in full force.

Canyon Walks and Soccer Games

Visits from Parentals for BYU Football

Visits to Good Ol' Manti

Sighting in Guns... Just wait for it.

You guessed it. For the first time in my life I went hunting. Legit hunting.
Here's how the story went:

February 2011
     Dad: "Do you want to put in for the deer hunt?"
     Me: "What??"
     Dad: "Do you want to put in for the deer hunt?!"
     Me: "Dad. I've never been hunting in my life."
     Dad: "I know! I think it's about time you went!"
     Me: "Dad, I have no idea where I will be in October. I could be in Timbuktu for all I know."
     Dad: "Well then, it'll give you a good reason to come home!"
     Me: "Ok fine. Go for it."
**Didn't draw out in 2011.

February 2012
     Dad: "Do you want to put in for the deer hunt again? We'll most likely go this year!"
     Me: "Sure. I'll only be in Provo in October. Easily done."
**Drew out for October 2012 Rifle Deer Hunt.

Although Bambi lived to see another day, 

we did see lots of great sites, beautiful animals, and gorgeous skies.

Parachute, All American Rejects, and Boys Like Girls Concert!

All in all,
the adventuring has been a wild, fun ride!
Oh how I love fall!!

A Second for Everything

Wow. What an adventurous week it's been.

(**Warning: many words coming. But it's all good. Of course. Why else would I be posting?)

The Sis and I took a fabulous afternoon trip to SLC for a special service project (post coming), and did a little shopping while we were at it.

Beautiful City Creek Center

Don't mind our clashing matching shirts. We have to have bright colors for the last bit of warm summer weather.

Among many other adventures, work decisions, and sporting events, the weekend quickly came.

In every kind of competition, there is always someone who comes in second place. In general, taking second place is much harder than taking first place (obviously) or third place. Third place is just happy they got in at all, but second place constantly questions themselves and beats themselves up--always wondering if they could have pushed it a little harder, try a little more, or did a little better.  
Could they have taken first instead? Yes, a first place winner should have good sportsmanship but,  
a second place winner is where true character is shown. A second place winner needs to have the  
class and confidence to accept their award, accept it with pride, and then have the drive and determination to change the outcome next time.

Yesterday, I ran the UVU Pride of the Valley 10K race. I have always loved 10K races, but this one was extremely fun. As the run began my legs felt like lead and I worried that this was going to be a long 6.2 miles.

After about 3/4 of a mile into it, the adrenaline kicked in and I pounded the pavement all the way to the end to take 2nd place in the overall Female Division! In this situation, although a certain amount of "classiness" was required to take second place, I was more surprised and crazily stoked that I had actually done that good!

What a glorious feeling that is!

It's crazy that even this week, I sort of felt like I needed to change things up in my routine. I was getting in a running slump. And then this crazy weekend comes and my motivation is built up once again!

I think that is similar to what happens in life in general. We start to get in a slump, but if we push through, Heavenly Father gives us those glorious experiences that spark our motivation and determination to make our lives the best they can possibly be!

Push through. A glorious moment is coming. Guaranteed.

I Know

I know that I have some truly incredible examples in my life.

I know that today, this scripture was meant for me:

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. D&C 123:17

I know that Fall is an incredibly beautiful time of year. I wouldn't switch Fall in Utah for anything!

I know that Sister Missionaries are extraordinary people. Thank you Sister Kendra. You made my whole day.

I know that I have one fabulous family and I'm so grateful that we will be together forever!

I know that God has a plan for me.

I know that we have magnificent freedoms that so many have sacrificed a great deal for. 

I know that there should be no place for simply "averageness" in my life.

I know that when amazing opportunities come your way, you have to seize them, cause you might never get that opportunity again.

I know that I was placed here at this time for a reason.

I know that running makes any day better. :)

I know that if I have faith everything will work out exactly how it's supposed to, in exactly the right timing.

I know that some days are tough but even more, I know that the tough days make the glorious days that much more glorious!

I know that a life well lived leaves no room for regrets.

Love you Lil' Sis + Photoshooting

From the first moment that she came into my life,
we've been best friends.

Like all best friends, we had our ups and downs. We loved to play together, tease each other and fight with each other.

In fact, I remember telling her one time that "Mom and Dad are going to have to send one of us away because we fight too much. And they are going to keep me because they love me more because I am older."
Typical older sister right?

To this day, I am incredibly grateful that our parents didn't give either of us away!!!

A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.  

~Author Unknown

As we grew up, we each went through our struggles, but friends we remained.

The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend.  

~Cali Rae Turner

Eventually, we parted ways as we grew up. But coming home to play, to pamper, 

and to hang out, 

made for some of the best memories through my college experience.

 
 







 




 

A turning point in our relationship came when we overcame great struggles and ran a half marathon together. It was then that we became equals. 

No longer older and younger, but sister to sister, friend to friend.

One of the best days of my life was when I got the job at BYU and realized that I would be moving to Provo and would finally live in the same town as my sister again. 

The last year has been such an incredible journey full of fun, laughter, many sporting events, random adventures, a few tears, but amazing growth.

Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, 

but once the sisters are grown, 

it becomes the strongest relationship.  

~Margaret Mead

To my fabulous and amazing sister, KelliAnne,  
I love you more than words could ever describe.
You've been my rock, my adviser, my teacher, sometimes my mother, my inspiration, my competitor, my example, my friend, my fellow adventurer, my opponent, my enthusiast, my confidant, 
but best of all, my sister. Forever.

 Photoshoot by: Kylie secondstarphotography.blogspot.com

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities.  She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway.  She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.  She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.  Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.  

~Barbara Alpert